All language subtitles for true.conviction.s01e03.hdtv.x264-w4f-NH

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WHEN SHE PICKED UP
THE PHONE, THEY SAID,

"YOU'RE GONNA WIND UP
WITH TWO BULLETS IN THE HEAD."

SHE SAYS, "I'M IN TROUBLE,
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY."

HOW WAS SHE KILLED?

EXECUTION STYLE.

TWO BULLETS TO THE HEAD.

NO ROBBERY, NO STRUGGLE.

WHAT DID THAT SAY TO YOU?

THIS PERSON CAME TO THE DOOR
SPECIFICALLY TO KILL HER.

FORENSICALLY, INSIDE THAT HOUSE,
WHAT DID YOU HAVE?

- ABSOLUTELY ZILCH.
-YOU HAD NO EVIDENCE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SOMEONE WANTED HER DEAD.

THIS WOMAN WAS EXECUTED.

YES.

AND IN FRONT OF
HER CHILDREN, TOO.

MY NAME IS
ANNA-SIGGA NICOLAZZI.

IN MY TWO DECADES AS A NEW YORK
CITY HOMICIDE PROSECUTOR,

I SAW HOW MURDER AFFECTS LIVES
FAR BEYOND THE CRIME SCENE.

LET ME TAKE YOU INSIDE
THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

FOR VICTIMS
AND THEIR LOVED ONES.

THIS IS "TRUE CONVICTION."

PHILADELPHIA.

MOST VISITORS NEVER STRAY
MORE THAN A FEW BLOCKS

FROM THE LIBERTY BELL.

BUT ACROSS THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
LIES SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA,

A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD

AT THE VERY HEART
OF THIS BLUE-COLLAR CITY.

IT WAS HERE IN MARCH OF 1990
THAT SINGLE MOTHER

DONNA WILLARD WAS BRUTALLY
MURDERED INSIDE HER OWN HOME...

SENDING SHOCK WAVES OF HORROR

THROUGH HER
TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.

I'VE COME TO SOUTHWEST PHILLY
TO REVEAL HOW PROSECUTORS

AND POLICE GOT JUSTICE
FOR THE WILLARD FAMILY.

AS A PROSECUTOR, IT WAS ALWAYS
SO IMPORTANT FOR ME

TO KNOW THE VICTIM,
NOT JUST IN DEATH,

BUT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT
WHO THEY WERE IN LIFE.

TELL ME SOME THINGS
ABOUT YOUR SISTER DONNA.

WELL, SHE WAS
SO GOOD-HEARTED.

WHAT A GOOD GIRL.

SHE WAS ALL
OF ABOUT 85 POUNDS.

SHE HAD A BEAUTIFUL SMILE.

HER PERSONALITY
WAS WONDERFUL.

SHE WAS JUST -- SHE WAS LIKE
A LITTLE BURST OF ENERGY.

JOAN CATALLO WAS THREE YEARS
YOUNGER THAN HER SISTER DONNA.

WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE FRIENDS
WHEN WE WERE REALLY YOUNG

BECAUSE WE HAD EACH OTHER.

WE WERE INSEPARABLE.

THE SISTERS REMAINED
CLOSE AS ADULTS.

BOTH HAD FAMILIES.

DONNA WAS A SINGLE MOM.

HER THREE KIDS WERE A CONSTANT
PRESENCE AT JOAN'S HOUSE.

WE MESHED LIKE ONE FAMILY.

HER KIDS WERE SO GOOD.

JESSICA WAS SEVEN.

DONNA WAS 10,
AND TODD WAS 12.

SHE JUST LOVED
HER KIDS TO DEATH.

THEY WERE HER LIFE,
THE LIGHT OF HER LIFE.

DONNA CUT HAIR AT A BEAUTY
SALON TO MAKE ENDS MEET,

BUT SHE DREAMED BIG.

SHE SAVED HER MONEY AND
EVENTUALLY BOUGHT THE BUSINESS.

TELL ME ABOUT
THE BEAUTY SHOP.

OH, GOSH!

IT WAS -- IT WAS
A REALLY FUN PLACE.

I WORKED THEIR ALSO.

DONNA WAS LIKE
A LITTLE BUTTERFLY,

YOU KNOW, SOCIAL BUTTERFLY.

EVERYBODY CAME FROM EVERYWHERE
TO GET THEIR HAIR CUT BY HER.

THEY LOVED HER.
SHE HAD A HEART OF GOLD.

IF THEY NEEDED A HAIRCUT AND
THEY COULDN'T PAY, SHE DID IT.

AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT.
MNH-MNH.

SHE WAS ON HER OWN.
PAID HER OWN BILLS.

I DON'T KNOW PERSONALLY
HOW SHE DONE IT. HMM.

SHE WAS LIKE A SAINT TO ME.

BETWEEN THE SALON
AND HER KIDS,

DONNA HAD LITTLE TIME
FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

BUT IN 1988, SHE FOUND LOVE.

SHE MET THIS GUY
NAMED TOMMY TYRRELL.

THEY HIT IT OFF.
HE WAS SUCH A GOOD GUY.

SHE WAS A PIECE OF WORK.

SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL
AND SHE DID IT ALL.

WHERE DID YOU MEET DONNA.

I MET DONNA
IN THE HAIR SHOP.

I WENT IN FOR A HAIRCUT,
AND I MADE SURE

I KEPT GOING BACK
FOR FREQUENT HAIRCUTS.

HE REALLY LOVED HER.

HE WAS A GENTLEMAN.

HE HAD A GOOD JOB.

HE KNEW HOW HARD SHE HAD IT.

AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP,
IT DIDN'T STOP AT JUST DATING.

IT KEPT GOING FURTHER.

WE WERE ENGAGED.

WE LOVED EACH OTHER.

SHE WAS THRILLED.
SHE WAS SO HAPPY.

SHE WALKED ON AIR
AFTER THAT.

SHE FINALLY WAS GONNA HAVE
A HUSBAND AND A HOUSE

AND SECURITY,

AND, YOU KNOW...

AND THEN IT WAS
JUST STRIPPED OF HER.

ON MARCH 6, 1990,

DONNA'S LIFE CAME TO
A HORRIFIC AND VIOLENT END.

PROSECUTOR LEE DOBKIN
CAN STILL RECALL

THE GRISLY DETAILS
OF THAT NIGHT.

IT WAS RELATIVELY LATE
IN THE EVENING.

SHE APPARENTLY WAS
EXPECTING SOMEONE.

SHE GETS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

AND SHE'S IMMEDIATELY
CONFRONTED BY A GUNMAN...

WHO LUNGES TOWARDS HER.

GRABS HER.

IT HAD TO BE UTTER,
COMPLETE TERROR.

SHE TRIES TO GET AWAY,

AND HE SHOOTS HER
TWO TIMES IN THE HEAD.

DONNA'S KIDS WERE UPSTAIRS
WHEN THEIR MOTHER WAS MURDERED.

THEY WERE PHYSICALLY UNHARMED,

BUT THEIR LIVES
HAD CHANGED FOREVER.

TODD LED HIS HYSTERICAL SISTERS
ACROSS THE STREET

AND ASKED HIS NEIGHBOR
TO CALL 911.

LIEUTENANT JOE WITTE WAS
THE PHILADELPHIA HOMICIDE

DETECTIVE DISPATCHED
TO THE SCENE.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THE
CALL THAT YOU GOT THAT NIGHT?

THAT THERE WAS A REPORT
OF A SHOOTING

IN THE 6200 BLOCK
OF REEDLAND STREET, AT A HOUSE.

AND WHEN
POLICE GOT THERE,

THEY FOUND
THE OCCUPANT OF THE HOUSE,

A WOMAN, HAD BEEN
SHOT IN THE HEAD,

AND SHE WAS DEAD
ON THE SCENE.

DETECTIVE WITTE HAS AGREED
TO TAKE ME

TO DONNA'S OLD HOUSE
IN SOUTHWEST PHILLY.

FOR A PROSECUTOR,
NO POLICE SKETCH OR PHOTO

CAN OFFER AS MUCH PERSPECTIVE
AS A FIRSTHAND LOOK.

THIS IS THE 6200 BLOCK
OF REEDLAND STREET.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU WERE HERE?

UH, MARCH 6, 1990.

AS A SEASONED
HOMICIDE PROSECUTOR,

YOU KNOW INVESTIGATORS,

FIRST THING THEY LOOK FOR
IS THE BODY OF THE CRIME.

SHE WAS LYING RIGHT HERE,
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEPS.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER
ABOUT THE WAY

DONNA LOOKED WHEN
YOU WALKED IN THAT NIGHT?

WELL, SHE WAS
FULLY CLOTHED.

SHE WAS IN AN AWKWARD POSITION,
LIKE SHE HAD FALLEN,

BUT WAS PUSHED DOWN.

SHE HAD TWO BULLET
WOUNDS TO HER HEAD.

THERE WERE BLOOD
SPATTER ON THE WALL.

WHAT ABOUT IN THIS ROOM?

WAS THERE ANY SIGNS OF ANY LAMPS
OVER, ANYTHING AMISS?

IT WAS INTACT. THERE WAS
NO SIGN OF A STRUGGLE.

ANY EVIDENCE OF ROBBERY,
ANYTHING OUT OF PLACE?

EVERYTHING WAS IN PLACE.

WHAT ABOUT ANY EVIDENCE
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT?

NO, 'CAUSE SHE WAS
FULLY CLOTHED,

AND HER CLOTHES DID NOT
SEEM TO BE DISTURBED.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE
TO BE BACK IN HERE

AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS?

IT'S A LITTLE EERIE.

I'M STILL IMAGINING --
I SEE THE BLOOD ON THE WALL.

HER CRUMPLED UP.

AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW...

A LITTLE HARD TO TAKE WHEN YOU
SEE A YOUNG WOMAN LIKE THAT.

NO ROBBERY.

NO STRUGGLE.

NO SEXUAL ASSAULT.

A KNOCK AT THE DOOR,
DONNA ANSWERS,

TWO BULLETS RIGHT TO HER HEAD.

WHAT DID THAT SAY TO YOU?

IT TOLD US THAT THIS PERSON
CAME TO THE DOOR

SPECIFICALLY TO KILL HER.

IT WOULD BE
AN ASSASSINATION.

FORENSICALLY, INSIDE THAT HOUSE,
WHAT DID YOU HAVE?

ABSOLUTELY ZILCH, OTHER THAN
BLOOD AND TISSUE, WHICH...

ULTIMATELY, WAS DONNA'S.

NO FINGERPRINTS THAT
LED YOU ANYWHERE?

NOTHING THAT WAS USABLE.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE
A MURDER WEAPON.

NO.

BUT DETECTIVE WITTE
DID HAVE AN EYEWITNESS.

HER OLDEST CHILD IS UP ON
THE TOP OF THE STAIRS

AND WITNESSED THE SHOOTING
AND, OF COURSE, SAW HER BODY.

THE BEST CHANCE YOU HAD
OF IDENTIFYING DONNA'S KILLER

WAS HER
12-YEAR-OLD SON TODD.

THAT'S CORRECT.

WAS HER
12-YEAR-OLD SON TODD.

MARCH 6, 1990.

THE PHILADELPHIA
POLICE DEPARTMENT

WAS INVESTIGATING
THE COLD-BLOODED MURDER

OF SINGLE MOTHER
DONNA WILLARD.

LIEUTENANT JOE WITTE WAS
THE LEAD DETECTIVE ON THE CASE.

YOU WERE WORKING
IN A BUSY CITY

THAT HAD A VERY HIGH
HOMICIDE RATE AT THE TIME.

BUT THIS STILL WAS NOT
THE USUAL HOMICIDE CASE.

NO, IT WASN'T.

THIS WASN'T A RANDOM THING,
THERE WAS NO RANSACKING.

THIS WOMAN WAS EXECUTED.

YES.

AND IN FRONT OF
HER CHILDREN, TOO.

DONNA'S DAUGHTERS HID UPSTAIRS
DURING THE ATTACK.

BUT HER SON TODD WITNESSED
HIS MOTHER'S MURDER

FROM THE TOP OF THE STEPS.

HE WAS JUST 12 YEARS OLD.

HIS AUNT JOAN TOOK THE BOY IN
AND SPENT YEARS HELPING HIM COPE

WITH WHAT HE SAW THAT NIGHT.

IT WAS VERY HARD FOR HIM
BECAUSE, I MEAN,

HE WAS HAVING
HORRIFIC NIGHTMARES

AND HE'D WAKE UP SCREAMING.

I'D HAVE TO GO IN AND CHECK
EVERY WINDOW IN THE HOUSE.

HAD TO CHECK
EVERY DOOR TWICE.

TODD HAD SEEN HIS MOTHER KILLED.
MM-HMM.

HE ACTUALLY SAW
THE PERSON THAT DID IT.

YES.

SHE WAS IN THE KITCHEN,
MAKING THEIR LUNCHES

FOR SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY.

THERE WAS
A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

AND HE SAID,
"MOM, I'LL GET IT."

SHE SAID,
"NO, GO BACK TO BED."

WELL, HE WAS NOSY.

HE STOOD IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE STEPS.

SHE OPENED THE DOOR.

SHE BACKED UP, SCREAMING,
"HELP ME, TODD, HELP ME!"

AND SHE WAS CROUCHED
ON THE STEPS.

AND THEY JUST
BLEW HER AWAY...

RIGHT IN FRONT OF TODD.

HE DESCRIBED THE SHOOTER
AS A WHITE MALE

WITH SOME SORT OF SHOE POLISH
OR CHARCOAL ON HIS FACE,

WEARING A HOODED SWEATSHIRT.

A POLICE ARTIST
WORKED WITH TODD

TO MAKE A COMPOSITE SKETCH
OF THE KILLER

TO DISTRIBUTE
TO THE NEWS MEDIA.

WHERE DID THE DOTS
START TO LEAD YOU?

YOU KNOW AS A PROSECUTOR
THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE KILLED

BY PEOPLE THEY KNOW.

WHOEVER DID IT DID IT
WITH THE INTENT TO KILL DONNA.

DONNA WAS MURDERED
JUST BEFORE 9:30 P.M.

DETECTIVES BEGAN QUESTIONING
HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS

ABOUT THEIR WHEREABOUTS,

STARTING WITH HER FIANCE,
TOM TYRRELL.

MARCH 6, 1990.

WHERE WERE YOU THAT NIGHT?

I WAS A STEAMFITTER
AT LOCAL 420.

THERE WAS A UNION MEETING
AT 73rd AND LINDBERGH.

I WENT TO
THE UNION MEETING.

AND AFTER THE UNION
MEETING, YOU KNOW,

I WAS GONNA GO OVER TO DONNA'S
HOUSE TO SPEND THE NIGHT.

WHEN I GOT TO THE STREET,
IT WAS LIKE THERE WAS COPS

ALL OVER AND PEOPLE OUT.

I HAD NO IDEA
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER
BEING TOLD?

I KNOW IT WAS THAT DONNA
WAS SHOT AND KILLED.

HEARING THIS...

WHAT DID THAT DO
TO YOUR WORLD?

OH, IT CRASHED IT.

LIEUTENANT WITTE'S DETECTIVES
CHECKED WITH THE UNION

AND CONFIRMED TOM'S ALIBI.

HE HAD BEEN AT THE MEETING
AT THE TIME OF THE MURDER.

TOM EVEN AGREED
TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH.

BY THE END OF THE INTERVIEW,
NOT ONLY SEEING HIS DEMEANOR,

I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT HE WAS INVOLVED.

BUT TOM GAVE THE POLICE
A LEAD.

HIS THEORY WAS THAT
HER OLD BOYFRIEND

DOUG WAS SOMEHOW INVOLVED.

TOM TOLD POLICE THAT DONNA
AND HER EX-BOYFRIEND DOUG

HAD DATED THREE YEARS EARLIER,
AND THE RELATIONSHIP WAS ROCKY.

TOM SAID THAT DONNA
BROKE IT OFF,

AND DOUG DIDN'T TAKE IT WELL.

THE FEW TIMES
I WAS AROUND HIM,

I DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY
HE TREATED MY SISTER.

NONE OF MY FAMILY
CARED FOR HIM.

WHEN IT ENDED,
WERE THEY FRIENDS?

OR HOW DID IT END?
NO!

TOM WARNED DOUG TO
KEEP AWAY FROM DONNA.

AND FOR OVER TWO YEARS,
THEY HARDLY SAW HIM.

BUT IN EARLY 1990, DOUG STARTED
COMING AROUND AGAIN.

I WENT BACK TO DONNA,
AND I SAID,

"WHY DOES DOUG, YOU KNOW,
AND YOU HAVE TO TALK ANYMORE?"

AND SHE SAID,
"BECAUSE OF THE LAWSUIT."

DONNA WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT
IN 1987 WITH HER BOYFRIEND.

WERE THEY HURT?

NOT SERIOUSLY.

BUT DOUG KNEW AN ATTORNEY,

AND THEY ULTIMATELY
GOT A SETTLEMENT.

HOW MUCH MONEY
DID SHE RECEIVE?

$10,000.

WHAT DID SHE DO
WITH THAT MONEY?

SHE TOOK THE KIDS
TO DISNEY WORLD...

RIGHT BEFORE SHE DIED.

BUT IT WAS ALL TOO GOOD
TO BE TRUE.

DONNA AND DOUG'S ATTORNEY
WAS EMBROILED

IN AN INSURANCE
FRAUD INVESTIGATION.

AND NOW THE FEDS WANTED
TO TALK TO THEM, TOO.

DONNA RECEIVED
A GRAND JURY SUBPOENA.

SHE SAID, "I WAS SERVED
WITH A SUBPOENA.

I HAVE TO GO IN FRONT
OF THE GRAND JURY."

AND I SAID, "FOR WHAT?"

AND SHE SAID,
"I DON'T KNOW."

HOW DID SHE FEEL ABOUT
THIS UPCOMING TESTIMONY?

I THINK SHE WANTED IT
TO GO AWAY.

BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE
TO IGNORE.

DOUG HAD STARTED SHOWING UP
AT DONNA'S SALON,

ANXIOUS TO GO OVER
WHAT SHE WOULD SAY UNDER OATH.

WHY DOES DOUG CARE?

WAS HE A CLAIMANT, TOO?

YES.

SO ANYTHING THAT IMPACTS
THIS LAWSUIT NEGATIVELY--

THE LAWSUIT
WOULD IMPACT DONNA.

SO DID YOU GO
AND LOOK FOR DOUG?

OH, YES.

WE INTERVIEWED DOUG.

HE WAS ASKED TO TAKE
A POLYGRAPH, BUT HE REFUSED.

AND SO WHAT DID IT SAY
TO YOU WHEN HE SAID

I'M NOT GOING NEAR
THAT MACHINE?

I'D SAY HE HAD
SOMETHING TO HIDE.

I'M NOT GOING NEAR
THAT MACHINE?

ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 6, 1990,
SINGLE MOTHER

DONNA WILLARD ANSWERED
A KNOCK AT HER FRONT DOOR...

AND WAS SHOT DEAD
BY A HOODED GUNMAN.

PHILADELPHIA HOMICIDE
DETECTIVE JOE WITTE

HAD QUESTIONS
FOR DONNA'S EX-BOYFRIEND DOUG.

SO YOU HAD SOMEONE COMING IN
AND SAYING THAT

DOUG WAS HARASSING DONNA.

YOU BRING IN DOUG, AND HE
REFUSES TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH.

I MEAN, THIS GUY SOUNDS
LIKE HE MUST HAVE GONE

RIGHT TO
THE TOP OF YOUR LIST.

OH, HE DID.
HE DID.

THEY TOLD ME THAT HE'D REFUSED
A LIE DETECTOR TEST,

FLAT-OUT REFUSED.

SO WHAT DID
THAT SAY TO YOU?

THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE REASON
WHY YOU WOULD REFUSE,

YOU KNOW SOMETHING.

OR YOU DID SOMETHING.

TOMMY TYRRELL ALWAYS THOUGHT
IT WAS HIM THAT HAD HER KILLED.

AND I REMEMBER HE WENT OUT
TO HIS HOUSE WITH A BULLHORN.

I MARCHED DOWN THE STREET
TO DOUG'S HOUSE WITH A BULLHORN.

HE WAS SO FRUSTRATED
AT THINKING

DOUG HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH THIS.

AND I WAS SCREAMING
ON THE BULLHORN,

"DOUG, WE KNOW YOU REFUSED
A POLYGRAPH TEST,

AND THE ONLY REASON YOU WOULD DO
THAT IS THERE'S SOMETHING

THAT YOU DON'T WANT
TO COME UP WITH."

BUT LIEUTENANT WITTE
HAD HIS DOUBTS

THAT DOUG WAS
THE HOODED ASSASSIN

IN TODD'S COMPOSITE SKETCH.

WHEN WITTE LOOKED INTO
TODD'S WHEREABOUTS

AT THE TIME
OF THE MURDER,

HE FOUND THAT THE MAN
HAD A SOLID ALIBI.

DOUG WAS NOT DONNA'S KILLER.

HIS TIMECARDS AND ALL REVEALED
THAT HE WAS AT WORK.

SO DOUG'S ALIBI CHECKS OUT.

WHAT DOES THAT DO
TO YOUR INVESTIGATION?

DONNA'S MOTHER WAS
VERY ADAMANT THAT,

YOU KNOW, THAT IT HAD
TO DO WITH THE SUBPOENA.

AND IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH
THAT ATTORNEY, SHE KEPT SAYING.

WHO WAS THE ATTORNEY?

THE ATTORNEY WAS
ROBERT BURKE.

ROBERT BURKE WAS A HIGH-VOLUME
PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY.

WORD ON THE STREET WAS
THAT ROBERT BURKE

WAS SOMEONE WHO COULD
GET YOU QUICK, EASY MONEY.

NO MUSS, NO FUSS.

AND DONNA WILLARD HAD BEEN
ONE OF HIS CLIENTS.

YES.

SO SHE HAD HIRED
THIS ATTORNEY, ROBERT BURKE,

AND HE SAYS, "OKAY, WELL,
I'LL SETTLE --

YOU KNOW,
I'LL DO A SETTLEMENT."

HE'D GIVEN HER
A PERSONAL CHECK,

AND MY MOTHER
FOUND IT VERY STRANGE.

BUT ROBERT BURKE'S EASY
MONEY OPERATION

HAD CAUGHT THE EYE
OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

FRANK PASSERINI
WAS THE U.S.

POSTAL INSPECTOR
INVESTIGATING BURKE.

SO WHEN DONNA WAS KILLED,
YOU HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING

ON YOUR INVESTIGATION
INTO ROBERT BURKE

FOR ALMOST
A YEAR AND A HALF.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THESE
CLAIMS THAT WERE SUSPECT?

A COMMON DENOMINATOR
IN ALMOST ALL OF THE CLAIMS,

ROBERT BURKE
WAS THE ATTORNEY.

AND ROBERT SEGIN
WAS THE TREATING DOCTOR.

DR. ROBERT SEGIN WAS LISTED

AS THE TREATING PHYSICIAN
ON INSURANCE FORMS

FOR NEARLY EVERY ONE
OF ROBERT BURKE'S CLIENTS.

BUT PASSERINI HAD A HUNCH
THAT NO TREATMENT

HAD ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

SO IN JUNE 1989, HE TOOK A DRIVE
UP TO SEGIN'S MEDICAL OFFICE

TO QUESTION HIM.

THIS IS EYRE STREET.

AND THIS WAS THE LOCATION

WHERE DR. SEGIN
ALLEGEDLY

TREATED SO MANY
OF ROBERT BURKE'S PATIENTS.

THIS IS
THE BRICK BUILDING HERE

WE'RE APPROACHING
WITH THE WHITE MAILBOX.

AND BACK IN EARLY 1989 DURING
MY INVESTIGATION, ONE DAY,

I JUST WALKED UP.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT IT
WHEN YOU WALKED UP TO IT?

WELL, IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK
LIKE A DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

BUT I WAS ABLE TO PEEK
IN THE WINDOW.

ANY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
THAT YOU COULD SEE?

NO.

THERE WASN'T MUCH FURNITURE
IN THE PLACE THAT I COULD TELL.

BUT CERTAINLY NO MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT THAT I COULD SEE.

YET THIS IS THE ADDRESS
WHERE THESE ACCIDENT VICTIMS

WERE SAYING THAT
THEY'D BEEN TREATED.

YES, INCLUDING THE CLAIM
FOR DONNA WILLARD.

IT WAS ALL A SCAM.

HOW DID IT WORK?

WELL, IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE
HAD LEGITIMATE CAR ACCIDENTS.

SOME WERE STAGED, BUT MANY
OF THEM WERE LEGITIMATE.

ROBERT BURKE HAD A DOCTOR
AT HIS COMMAND AND CONTROL.

SO HE'D MANUFACTURE
PHONY MEDICAL BILLS,

HE'D SUBMIT EVERYTHING,
AND GET THEM A SETTLEMENT.

IN THIS CASE, DONNA'S SETTLEMENT
FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY

WAS $18,000,

AND HER NET AMOUNT THAT SHE
RECEIVED FROM ROBERT BURKE

WAS $10,000.

PIECE BY PIECE, PASSERINI BUILT
AN INSURANCE FRAUD CASE

AGAINST ROBERT BURKE.

IN SPRING 1990,
HE ISSUES SUBPOENAS

TO ALL OF BURKE'S
FORMER CLIENTS.

ONE OF THEM WENT
TO DONNA WILLARD.

THE FIRST QUESTION THAT
WE ALL ASKED OURSELVES

WAS IS IT POSSIBLE
THAT THERE'S A CONNECTION

BETWEEN THE FACT
THAT SHE WAS SUBPOENAED

AND THE FACT
THAT SHE WAS KILLED.

IT DIDN'T RING TRUE THAT AN
ATTORNEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE

SOMEBODY KILLED OVER
A MAIL FRAUD INVESTIGATION.

EVEN IF HE'S CONVICTED
OF MULTIPLE COUNTS,

THE MOST HE'S GONNA GONNA GET
IS FIVE YEARS PROBATION.

AN ATTORNEY WOULD NEVER
KILL ANYBODY OVER THAT.

- IT MAKES NO SENSE.
-MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.

HOWEVER, DONNA'S MOTHER
MARIAN WAS VERY ADAMANT.

DONNA'S MOTHER,
THE LATE MARIAN WOLF,

FELT THAT THE INVESTIGATION
WAS MOVING TOO SLOWLY.

SHE TOOK A PAGE OUT OF
TOM TYRRELL'S PLAYBOOK

AND BEGAN USING THE NEWS
MEDIA LIKE A BULLHORN.

DONNA'S MOTHER HAD BEEN
TALKING TO CHANNEL 6, CHANNEL 3,

AND SAYING THAT HER
DAUGHTER WAS KILLED

BECAUSE SHE WAS
A FEDERAL WITNESS.

I HOPED THAT BY
CHRISTMASTIME 1990,

I'D BE ABLE TO GET MARIAN WOLF
HER DAUGHTER'S KILLER.

HER MOM WAS UNDERSTANDABLY
JUST GRIEF-STRICKEN

AT LOSING A DAUGHTER.

JOURNALIST EMILIE LOUNSBERRY
COVERED THE STORY

FOR THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER.

AND WHAT TYPE OF PICTURE
STARTED TO EMERGE?

THAT SHE WAS KILLED TO PREVENT
HER FROM TESTIFYING,

THAT SOMEONE
WANTED HER DEAD.

THAT IT HAD BEEN THE EXECUTION
OF A FEDERAL WITNESS.

IF DONNA WAS KILLED TO
KEEP HER FROM TESTIFYING,

INVESTIGATORS WERE DEALING WITH
AN EVEN MORE SHOCKING CRIME.

FROM THE MOMENT
OF THE MURDER,

THE MEDIA WAS READY
FOR ROBERT BURKE TO BE CHARGED.

IT WAS
AN INCREDIBLY JUICY CASE.

THE MEDIA CAN WRITE IT,
PEOPLE CAN SUSPECT IT,

BUT WE AS PROSECUTORS
CAN'T CHARGE IT

UNLESS WE HAVE
THE EVIDENCE.

AND AT THAT POINT,
YOU HAD NO EVIDENCE

WITH WHICH TO LINK
ROBERT BURKE TO HER MURDER.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THE DETECTIVES
HAD INFORMATION

THE NEWSPAPERS DIDN'T.

INVESTIGATORS KNEW EXACTLY
WHERE ROBERT BURKE WAS

AND WHAT HE WAS DOING
AT THE TIME OF DONNA'S MURDER.

OUR POSTAL INSPECTOR
INFORMED US

THAT ROBERT HAD
THE ULTIMATE ALIBI.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
BY THE ULTIMATE ALIBI?

HE WAS UNDER
FEDERAL SURVEILLANCE,

AND WAS ACTUALLY ON
A TAPE RECORDING WITH DR. SEGIN.

IT WAS ACTUALLY THE DAY
THAT DONNA WAS KILLED.

I HAD RECORDED A CONVERSATION
THAT ROBERT SEGIN HAD

WITH ROBERT BURKE.

DR. SEGIN
WAS WEARING A BODY RECORDER.

BURKE WAS WITH SEGIN.

HE COULD NOT HAVE SHOT
DONNA WILLARD.

SO UNBEKNOWNST TO HIM,
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

GAVE HIM THE BEST
ALIBI HE COULD EVER HAVE.

THEY WERE LISTENING TO HIM AND
WATCHING HIM AT THE SAME TIME

DONNA WILLARD WAS KILLED.

THAT IS CORRECT.

DID THAT LEAD
THE INVESTIGATION

ANYWHERE INTO DONNA'S
DEATH FROM THERE?

A LOT OF DEAD ENDS.

IT'S STARTING TO GO COLD.

A LOT OF DEAD ENDS.

AT THE TIME OF DONNA WILLARD'S
MURDER, FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS

WERE MONITORING
HER ATTORNEY ROBERT BURKE.

THEY KNEW HE DIDN'T SHOOT HER.

BUT HER FAMILY
WOULD NOT BE DISSUADED.

REGARDLESS OF WHO ACTUALLY
PULLED THE TRIGGER,

THEY WERE CONVINCED THAT BURKE
WAS IN SOME WAY RESPONSIBLE.

WE JUST PUSHED AND PUSHED
AND PUSHED,

BECAUSE WE REALLY KNEW THAT
HE WAS AT THE CENTER OF IT.

MY SISTER DIDN'T HAVE
AN ENEMY IN HER LIFE.

DONNA WAS MURDERED
ON MARCH 6,

ONLY FOUR DAYS AFTER
SHE WAS SERVED HER SUBPOENA,

AND JUST ONE WEEK
BEFORE SHE WAS DUE TO TESTIFY.

THE TIMING WAS ENOUGH
TO RAISE EYEBROWS.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
MERGED THE HOMICIDE

AND INSURANCE
FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS

AND BROUGHT IN THE FBI.

WHERE DID THE CASE GO?

WE STARTED GOING THROUGH
THE LIST OF WITNESSES

THAT WERE SUBPOENAED.

AND WE STARTED
MAKING CONTACT.

THEY QUICKLY LEARNED THAT ROBERT
BURKE KNEW ABOUT THE SUBPOENAS.

HE HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
MANY OF HIS FORMER CLIENTS

ABOUT THEIR UPCOMING TESTIMONY.

HE HAD TOLD THEM
EXACTLY WHAT TO SAY

AND MANY OF THEM
WENT ALONG WITH IT,

AND WERE WILLING
TO COMMIT PERJURY.

BURKE WAS COACHING HIS CLIENTS

TO LIE TO THE GRAND JURY
ON HIS BEHALF.

AT THE HEART OF THE ISSUE
WAS THE DOCTOR

WHO HAD SUPPOSEDLY
TREATED THEIR INJURIES.

I WAS TOLD BY ONE PERSON
AT HER SHOP

THAT DONNA EVEN TOOK A RIDE
WITH BURKE TO MEET A DOCTOR.

SEGIN, I BELIEVE
HIS NAME WAS.

AND HE SAID,
"DON'T YOU REMEMBER?

YOU WERE TREATED HERE,
YOU'RE STILL TREATED HERE."

HE WANTED DONNA TO,
I GUESS,

GO OVER EVERYTHING
SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY.

ROBERT BURKE IS NOW
PICKING HER UP,

TAKING HER TO SOME DOCTOR
THAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW,

SAYING, "YOU DO REMEMBER
YOU WERE HERE."

RIGHT, AND YOU'RE
STILL BEING TREATED.

AND SHE WAS LIKE, "NO."

THEN SHE STARTED PUTTING
TWO AND TWO TOGETHER.

SHE SAID TO MY MOTHER,
"MOM, SOMETHING'S WRONG."

SHE SAID, "I'M IN TROUBLE,
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY."

NOBODY PUSHED BACK
ON ROBERT BURKE.

THE ONLY PERSON WE FOUND THAT
REALLY PUSHED BACK ON BURKE

AND SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T
GONNA LIE WAS DONNA WILLARD.

SHE HAD THE POTENTIAL,
AS HE UNDERSTOOD IT,

TO REALLY BRING DOWN
THE WHOLE ENTERPRISE.

THEN THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE
FOUND OUT ABOUT A TELEPHONE CALL

DONNA RECEIVED AT WORK.

WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE PHONE
IN THE HAIR SHOP, THEY SAID,

"YOU'RE GONNA WIND UP WITH
TWO BULLETS IN THE HEAD

IF YOU GO TO THE GRAND JURY."

SO SHE GETS
A PHONE CALL BY SOMEONE SAYING

THAT IF YOU DON'T GO ALONG WITH
WHAT YOU'RE BEING TOLD TO SAY,

YOU COULD END UP WITH
TWO BULLETS IN YOUR HEAD.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
SHE TOLD HER FRIENDS

AND FAMILY AT THE TIME.

AND MARCH 6th, WHEN SHE'S
KILLED, HOW WAS SHE KILLED?

EXECUTION STYLE --
TWO BULLETS TO THE HEAD.

POLICE WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY
AND TRACE THE CALL.

BUT THE MURDER WAS SOUNDING MORE
AND MORE LIKE A PLOT TO SILENCE

DONNA WILLARD.

WHETHER YOU'RE PROSECUTING WHITE
COLLAR CASES OR HOMICIDE CASES,

WE RELY ON WITNESSES,
ON REAL PEOPLE.

WELL, IT'S THE FOUNDATION
OF EVERYTHING WE DO.

EVERY KIND OF CASE THAT WE
TRY TO MAKE, WE NEED WITNESSES.

YOU CAN'T PROVE ANYTHING
WITHOUT PEOPLE

COMING IN AND COOPERATING
AND BEING TRUTHFUL.

SO THIS IS HORRIFYING
THAT DONNA HAD BEEN MURDERED

TO PREVENT HER
FROM TESTIFYING.

THE SINGLE MOM,
KIDS WITHOUT A MOTHER,

IT REALLY RAISED
THE STAKES DRAMATICALLY.

WE WEREN'T GONNA SLEEP
UNTIL WE SOLVED IT.

THERE WAS STILL NO EVIDENCE
TO SUGGEST THAT ROBERT BURKE

HAD ANYTHING TO DO
WITH DONNA'S MURDER.

BUT NOW THERE WAS A MOTIVE.

HERE'S A MAN WHO
IS GOING TO LOSE

HIS LAW LICENSE
IF CONVICTED.

I MEAN, AS AN ATTORNEY,
THINGS LIKE MAIL FRAUD

AND OBSTRUCTION
WERE PRETTY SERIOUS CHARGES.

SO IT WAS A PRETTY
POWERFUL MOTIVE

TO TRY TO KEEP
THE INVESTIGATION AT BAY.

BY MAY 1990, THE INSURANCE FRAUD
INVESTIGATORS HAD ENOUGH

TO CHARGE ROBERT BURKE
WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

THE TIME HAD COME TO GET HIM
OFF THE STREETS.

WE MADE THE DECISION
TO ARREST HIM ON THE FRAUD

AND THE OBSTRUCTION.

IT WAS ON MAY 7, 1990,
I ARRESTED ROBERT BURKE.

I HANDCUFFED HIM,

TOOK HIM TO
THE U.S. MARSHALS OFFICE,

AND HE NEVER MADE
BAIL AFTER THAT.

THREE MONTHS LATER,
ROBERT BURKE PLED GUILTY

TO 97 COUNTS OF FRAUD
AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

HE WAS SENTENCED TO
FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.

HOW DID YOUR FAMILY
REACT TO THAT,

THAT NOW THIS MAN
HAD BEEN ARRESTED,

BUT WASN'T GOING TO BE SERVING
MORE THAN A FEW YEARS.

YEAH.
AH.

FURIOUS.

BECAUSE ALL ALONG,
WE HAD KNOWN IT WAS HIM.

AND TO -- JUST IT WAS
SUCH AN INSULT TO MY FAMILY.

MONTHS PASSED.

INVESTIGATORS PIECED TOGETHER
A DETAILED PORTRAIT

OF BURKE'S WORLD,

BUT STILL HAD NOTHING TO
TIE HIM TO DONNA'S MURDER.

HER FAMILY BEGAN TO WORRY
THAT ROBERT BURKE

WOULD SIMPLY SERVE HIS
FIVE YEARS AND GO FREE.

IT WAS A NIGHTMARE
FOR THE LONGEST TIME,

BECAUSE WE JUST FELT THAT THERE
WAS NEVER GONNA BE NO JUSTICE.

WE JUST KEPT PRAYING
AND PRAYING AND PRAYING.

AND THEN JUST BEFORE
CHRISTMAS OF 1990,

AFTER HUNDREDS
OF MAN HOURS SPENT

SIFTING THROUGH
ROBERT BURKE'S PAST,

THE CASE ABRUPTLY BROKE
IN A DIRECTION

NOBODY SAW COMING.

I WAS AT WORK.

I GOT CONTACTED BY THE FBI AGENT
ON OUR CASE.

HE SAID HE JUST HEARD FROM
HIS COLLEAGUES IN NEW JERSEY,

AND JACK FOLEY
HAD JUST COME IN

AND CONFESSED TO
THE DONNA WILLARD MURDER.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS
RUNNING THROUGH YOUR MIND?

WHO THE HELL
IS JACK FOLEY?

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS
RUNNING THROUGH YOUR MIND?

DECEMBER 1990 -- NINE MONTHS
AFTER THE VIOLENT MURDER

OF SINGLE MOTHER
DONNA WILLARD.

A MAN WALKED INTO AN FBI FIELD
OFFICE AND CONFESSED.

IT WAS JUST BEFORE
CHRISTMAS OF 1990,

AND A MAN THAT NONE OF US

HAD EVER HEARD OF NAMED
JACK FOLEY SAID,

"I HAVE A SORRY TO TELL,"

AND CONFESSED THAT
HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED

IN THE MURDER
OF DONNA WILLARD.

BY THEN, INVESTIGATORS
WERE FAMILIAR WITH EVERYONE

IN ROBERT BURKE'S
INNER CIRCLE.

NOBODY KNEW JACK FOLEY.

HE TOLD THE AGENT
HE WAS A DRIVER

FOR A PERSON WHO MURDERED A
WOMAN IN SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN
ABOUT HIM?

JACK FOLEY WAS A...

A CAREER CRIMINAL.

HE HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF JAIL
FOR A VARIETY OF BEHAVIOR.

BUT THIS IS A GUY
WHO'S NOT ON OUR RADAR.

JACK FOLEY TOLD THEM THAT A MAN
BY THE NAME OF DAVID LOUIE

HAD APPROACHED HIM

AND SAID HE NEEDED
TO GET SOMEONE KILLED.

THE NAME DAVID LOUIE
CAUSED INVESTIGATORS TO LEAN IN.

THIS WAS THE CONNECTION
THEY'D BEEN LOOKING FOR.

I KNEW DAVID LOUIE.

DAVID LOUIE WAS AN ASSOCIATE
OF ROBERT BURKE'S.

HE WAS A CLIENT IN ONE
OF THESE PHONY ACCIDENTS.

ROBERT BURKE
REPRESENTED HIM.

ROBERT SEGIN "TREATED" HIM,
AND HE GOT AN INSURANCE PAY OUT.

DETECTIVES BROUGHT IN
DAVID LOUIE FOR QUESTIONING.

THEY TOLD HIM THAT JACK FOLEY
HAD ALREADY GIVEN HIM UP.

LOUIE STARTED TALKING.

SO WHAT DAVE LOUIE TOLD US
WAS THAT ROBERT BURKE

WAS INCREDIBLY APPREHENSIVE
ABOUT DONNA WILLARD.

THAT HER TESTIMONY WAS GONNA
BRING THE WHOLE SCHEME DOWN,

AND COOK THEM.

LOUIE DESCRIBES BURKE GIVING
HIM CASH WITH THE UNDERSTANDING

THAT HE'S GONNA
FIND A HIT MAN

AND TAKE CARE OF
DONNA WILLARD.

NOW YOU ALL ARE RIGHT BACK
TO ROBERT BURKE.

RIGHT.

ROBERT BURKE PUT OUT
THE HIT ON DONNA.

HE TAPPED DAVID LOUIE
TO SEE IT THROUGH.

LOUIE ASKED JACK FOLEY
TO FIND A TRIGGER MAN.

AND FOLEY SUGGESTED
A FRIEND OF HIS

WHO WOULD DO IT CHEAPLY,
NAMED JAVIER LEBRON.

JAVIER LEBRON WAS A DRUG ADDICT
FROM CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

LEBRON NEEDED A FIX
AND HE NEEDED MONEY.

AND SO HE BECAME THE INSTRUMENT
OF MURDER IN THIS CASE.

ON MARCH 6, 1990,
LOUIE, FOLEY,

AND LEBRON SET OUT
TO KILL DONNA WILLARD.

YOU HAVE DAVE LOUIE
AND JACK FOLEY

PICKING UP JAVIER LEBRON

TO BRING HIM TO
SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA.

HE'S GOT A GUN.

JAVIER LEBRON GETS
OUT OF THE CAR.

LOUIE AND FOLEY
ARE WAITING FOR HIM.

HE WALKS UP TO THE DOOR.

BANGS ON IT.

DONNA WILLARD OPENS THE DOOR.

HE SHOOTS HER TWO TIMES
IN THE HEAD.

AND HE WAS PAID A THOUSAND BUCKS
TO CARRY OUT THIS KILLING.

$980 IN CASH,
AND 20 BUCKS WORTH OF HEROIN.

WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND,
HEARING THAT THIS MAN

TOOK DONNA'S LIFE FOR $1,000?

YEAH.

IT WAS TERRIBLE.

I MEAN, WHETHER IT WOULD
MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

IF HE GOT 100,000,
YOU KNOW,

I MEAN, BUT A THOUSAND
WAS JUST --

I MEAN,
IT MADE IT JUST WORSE.

ON DECEMBER 28, 1990, THE FBI
AND PHILADELPHIA POLICE

ARRESTED JAVIER LEBRON FOR
THE MURDER OF DONNA WILLARD.

OH, I WAS PERSONALLY
THERE WHEN JAVIER LEBRON

WAS ARRESTED IN HIS UNDERWEAR
UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

AND I WAS TELLING HIM,
"WE GOT YOU."

YOU GAVE DONNA'S MOM
HER KILLER.

I GAVE HER HER GIFT.

I GAVE HER HER GIFT.

GUNMAN JAVIER LEBRON WAS TRIED
FOR DONNA'S MURDER

IN SPRING 1991.

HE WAS FOUND GUILTY AND
SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.

DRIVER JACK FOLEY
AND MIDDLEMAN DAVID LOUIE

BOTH PLED GUILTY FOR
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER.

FOLEY WAS SENTENCED
TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON.

LOUIE GOT 25.

BUT LEE DOBKIN KNEW THAT
THESE WERE MERELY PRELUDES

TO THE MAIN EVENT.

SO THIS IS THE COURTHOUSE --
THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE --

WHERE YOU TRIED ROBERT BURKE
FOR THE MURDER OF DONNA WILLARD.

IT IS,
ALMOST 25 YEARS AGO.

AND LET'S TALK ABOUT JUST
THE DEFENDANT FOR A FEW MINUTES.

ROBERT BURKE, THE MAN
THAT SAT IN THAT DEFENSE CHAIR.

HE DIDN'T JUST
STAY OVER HERE.

ULTIMATELY,
YOU HAD HIM UP THERE.

YOU HAD HIM TESTIFYING
IN HIS OWN MURDER TRAIL.

I ALWAYS THINK THAT WHEN
WE HAVE A DEFENDANT

THAT TAKES THE STAND,

I REALLY THINK IT'S A GIFT
TO US AS PROSECUTORS,

THAT YOU ACTUALLY GET TO NOW

HAVE AN EXCHANGE WITH THEM,
BACK AND FORTH,

AND HOPEFULLY EXPOSE THEM.

TELL ME WHAT YOU REMEMBER
AS ROBERT BURKE TOOK THE STAND.

THE THING THAT STRUCK ME
WAS HE WAS INCREDIBLY RELAXED.

AND SO THERE WAS SOME PART
OF ME THAT THOUGHT,

"IF I DON'T CRACK THIS POISE,
I MAY HAVE A PROBLEM,"

BECAUSE HE SOUNDED
LIKE AN ATTORNEY.

HE DIDN'T SOUND LIKE
A MURDERER.

DURING WITNESS TESTIMONY,
WHAT'S BEING SAID

IS ONLY PART OF THE PICTURE.

A PROSECUTOR WILL ADVISE JURORS
TO WATCH HOW IT'S BEING SAID.

SOMETIMES A WITNESS' BODY
LANGUAGE TELLS A FULLER STORY.

AND SO WHAT TACK DID YOU
TAKE WITH HIM

WHEN YOU
CROSS EXAMINED HIM?

I KEPT POUNDING HIM
THAT DONNA WILLARD

WAS THE PERSON WHO COULD BRING
THIS WHOLE EMPIRE DOWN,

BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED THE JURY
TO APPRECIATE HIS MOTIVE.

AND HE COULDN'T DENY,
AND DIDN'T, THAT HE KNEW

THAT SHE WAS NO LONGER
COOPERATING WITH HIM.

AND HE COULDN'T DENY
THAT SHE WAS THE KEY

TO BRINGING HIS EMPIRE DOWN.

HE STARTED TO GET MORE EMOTIONAL
AND A LITTLE BIT UNGLUED,

AND THEN I WENT AT HIM
PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY.

AND I SAID,
"DURING THIS WHOLE TIME,

YOU HAVEN'T EXPRESSED REMORSE

ABOUT DONNA WILLARD'S MURDER."

HE DENIED THE KILLING.

BUT HE STARTED TO
GET RATTLED.

AND LITERALLY IN MID-SENTENCE,
MID-QUESTION,

HE TURNED TO THE JUDGE AND SAID,
"CAN I TAKE A BREAK?

I NEED USE THE FACILITIES."

WHETHER HE WAS GETTING SICK
OR WHAT WAS GOING ON,

I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT WAS
SUCH AN ABRUPT MOMENT,

EVERYTHING STOPPED.

AMAZING.

THEN JUSTICE CAME, YEAH.

IT FINALLY CAME.

ROBERT BURKE EVENTUALLY
RETURNED TO THE WITNESS STAND...

BUT THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE.

THE JURY HAD SEEN
THROUGH HIS FACADE.

I DO REMEMBER FEELING
INCREDIBLY RELIEVED.

I THINK WE ALL FELT THAT
A BURDEN WAS LIFTED AND WE HAD,

YOU KNOW, FINALLY ACCOMPLISHED
WHAT WE HAD SET OUT TO DO.

THE END OF THAT TRAIL,
AT THE TIME THE JURY STOOD UP

AND SAID THEY HAD A VERDICT.

WHAT WAS THE VERDICT?

GUILTY.

WHAT WAS ROBERT BURKE
SENTENCED TO?

HE GOT A LIFE SENTENCE
PLUS 99 YEARS...

TO RUN CONSECUTIVE.

SO HE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE
TO GET OUT OF PRISON.

HE'LL DIE IN THERE.

I KNOW IT DIDN'T BRING
DONNA BACK.

BUT TODD COULD REST,

DONNA COULD REST,
JESSICA COULD REST.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO CHECK WINDOWS,
NO MORE AT NIGHT.

THE MAN WHO KILLED THEIR MOTHER
WAS BEHIND BARS,

AND HE WOULD NEVER
GET OUT AGAIN.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS CASE,
WHAT IS IT ABOUT IT

THAT MAKES IT STILL
RESONATE SO MUCH WITH YOU?

SHE DIDN'T
DO ANYTHING WRONG.

THE ONLY THING SHE DID
WAS STOOD UP TO A BULLY.

AND THEN SHE PAID THE PRICE --
THE ULTIMATE PRICE.

AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE CASES
YOU JUST REMEMBER,

BECAUSE YOU KNOW THOSE CHILDREN
ARE GOING TO REMEMBER IT, SO...

IT BECOMES PART OF YOU, TOO,
AS AN INVESTIGATOR.

YOU SAID THAT YOU'VE DONE A LOT
TO REMEMBER YOUR SISTER

AND NOT JUST THE PAINFUL WAY
THAT SHE WAS TAKEN.

MM-HMM.

BUT TO REMEMBER ALL THE LOVE
THAT SHE GAVE YOU

AND EVERYONE
AROUND YOU AND...

AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT YOU SHOWED ME

WAS SOME POEMS
THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN.

YES.

AND ONE OF THEM,
YOU ENTITLED "MY BEST FRIEND."

YES.

AND IN PART OF IT,
YOU WROTE,

"I AM A GIRL WHO HAD
A BEST FRIEND,

A RELATIONSHIP
THAT WOULD NEVER END.

BUT THEN ONE NIGHT,
AN ENEMY CAME IN,

AND TOOK AWAY
MY FRIEND IN SIN.

IF I ONLY HAD
THE CHANCE TO KISS HER

FOR THIS FRIEND I LOST
WAS MY SISTER."

MM-HMM.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL

THAN WHAT YOU COULD
HAVE SAID RIGHT THERE.

I DID, I LOVED HER.

I STILL LOVE HER.

NO ONE TAKES THAT FROM YOU.

THEY CAN'T,
SHE'S RIGHT HERE.

SHE'S ALWAYS THERE.